70-year-old Harvey J. Makadon, MD, a prominent physician advocate for the LGBTQ community, resigned from Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Dec. 8 following allegations of sexual misconduct, according to The Boston Globe.
A spokesperson for Boston-based Harvard Medical School confirmed to The Boston Globe Dr. Makadon's status as a faculty member at the institution also ended Dec. 8.
His resignation from Beth Israel follows a previous Boston Globe report that said Dr. Makadon, who also practiced as a physician at Fenway Community Health Center, continued to work at Fenway Community for years despite several complaints alleging he had repeatedly engaged in sexual harassment and bullying. He was forced to resign from Fenway Community by March 1, according to the report.
Three men have come forward with allegations against Dr. Makadon and discussed their complaints with The Boston Globe Jan 2. The three individuals told the publication they reluctantly came forward with the allegations in the hope that medical institutions will take greater care to protect medical students, residents and patients from harassment, according to the report.
Through statements provided by his lawyer, Dr. Makadon told The Boston Globe some of the allegations against him are untrue, but apologized for his behavior in other cases.
"I now understand that at times my behavior caused some to feel uncomfortable in my presence. For that, I am truly sorry," Dr. Makadon said in the statement. "I have worked hard during my career to advance the care of patients with HIV and sexual and gender minorities. … I have never knowingly used my role to harm those whom I sought to help."
The Massachusetts State Board of Registration in Medicine lists Dr. Makadon's license as "active," but notes he is not currently practicing. Dr. Makadon's has no record of healthcare facility discipline, no record of felony or serious misdemeanor convictions and no record of out-of-state discipline, according to his profile on the board's website.
To read the full report, click here.
Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review reached out to Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center for comment and will update the report as more information becomes available.